Trading in Woolworths' shares was suspended this morning at the company's request: the company is near bankruptcy and in negotiations for a rescue. Selling the BBC Woolworths' 40 percent share of their 2entertain joint venture, which produces and distributes BBC shows on DVD is a possibility. There are reports of an agreement of sale of that unit for 100 million pounds to the BBC Worldwide—which owns the other 60 percent—but the Times says "the sale of the DVD business hinges on talks over the rest of the business."

Borders has announced that "management is no longer contemplating a transaction" to sell the entire company." The company remains "in discussions with Pershing Square regarding an alternative financing transaction," and could sell the Paperchase chain to Pershing Square for $65 million. The possible sale is apparently a negotiating point. Borders fell short of diminished expectations for the fiscal third quarter. Suffering from the economic downturn, Borders does not expect to achieve its goal of Borders.com breaking even this year "as previously stated."

Various publishers, with varying degrees of success in the current tight markets, are quoted in a New York Times article. The consensus is that not buying books on a continuing basis is not an option for publishers, nor is relying on established authors, given the public'[s desire for novelty.

It is the time of year to celebrate the pleasures and blessings of the harvest, and what better film to begin with than Chocolat? The time is 1959 and a small French town is locked in tranquility when a woman and her daughter are blown there by the north wind. Their secret? All things chocolate.